Dr. Mengxia Xu is an Associate Professor in Energy & Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). Prior to joining UNNC, he received his PhD from Zhejiang University and gained several years of postdoctoral experience at Louisiana State University, USA. Dr. Xu is a Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA, UK), a Youth Editorial Board Member for international journals of Green Energy & Resources and Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy, a member of the Zhejiang Provincial Society of Engineering Thermophysics, and an affiliated member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE, UK).

As corresponding author, Dr. Xu has published papers in reputable journals in recent years, including Adv. Funct. Mater., Appl. Catal. B, ACS Catal., Crit. Rev. Environ. Sci. Technol., J. Hazard. Mater., J. Energy Chem., Chem. Eng. J. and Fuel among others. As a PI or UNNC PI, Dr. Xu has secured various external research grants, including NSFC, Zhejiang Provincial Commonweal Project, and Yongjiang S&T Innovation 2035 Key R&D Program.

Dr. Xu's Research Profile at Google Scholar: Click HERE

Dr. Mengxia Xu’s current research interests align with the missions of ‘Carbon Neutrality’ and ‘Zero Waste City’, and specifically focus on:

• Electrochemical conversion of CO₂ to value-added chemicals
• Upcycling of solid wastes into environmental functional materials
• Thermal co-processing of solid wastes for alternative fuels in high-temperature industrial processes

PhD and MRes Opportunities

As lead supervisor, Dr. Xu has successfully guided two PhD students and two MRes (Master of Research) students to graduation. He is currently seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate for February 2027 entry. This fully funded PhD scholarship covers tuition fees (RMB 130,000 per year) and provides a monthly stipend (RMB 4,500) for three years. Upon successful completion of their studies, graduates will be awarded a doctoral degree from the University of Nottingham (UK). Additionally, Dr. Xu welcomes applications from prospective students wishing to pursue an MRes degree (typically a 1-year program from registration to dissertation submision). Outstanding MRes students will have the opportunity to secure competitive university PhD scholarships for their further studies. For more details, please contact Dr. Xu directly at mengxia.xu@nottingham.edu.cn.

Recently Funded Research Projects

As Principle Investigator (PI)

• Study on Heavy Metal Analysis Before and After Fly Ash Sintering Based on Coupled Molding Combustion of Multi-Source Solid Wastes, Horizontal Project (Jiamusi University), 2026─2028, 185,000 RMB
• Development of Key Technologies for Medium-Chain Carboxylic Acid Synthesis via Renewable Energy-Based Seawater Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Coupled with CO₂ Electrocatalytic Reduction and Microbial Carbon Chain Elongation, Yongjiang S&T Innovation 2035 Key R&D Program (Subproejct), 2025─2028, 600,000 RMB
• Research on Blast Furnace-based Technologies of Harmless Treatment and Resource Utilization of Fly Ash from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration, Zhejiang Provincial Commonweal Project, 2022─2024, 100,000 RMB
• Research on Key Technologies of Blast Furnace-based Co-Processing of Fly Ash from Municipal Solid Waste Incineration, Ningbo Commonweal S&T Key Programme, 2021─2025, 500,000 RMB
• Research and Development of Nitrogen Control Technology of Pyrolysis, Gasification and Combustion of Municipal Solid Waste. Subproject of Ningbo S&T Innovation 2025 Major Program, 2018─2022, 250,000 RMB
• Pollution Levels and Influencing Factors of Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals (EPFRs) on PM₅, Ningbo Natural Science Foundation, 2018─2021, 50,000 RMB

As Co-Investigator (Co-I)

• Investigation of Environmental Monitoring Technologies and Evaluation Methods During Highway Engineering Construction, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Transportation, 2025─2028, 140,000 RMB (15% credit)
• Turning High-Temperature Treated Multi-source Solid Waste into Artificial Aggregate, Ningbo Science and Technology Bureau, 2023─2026, 417,000 RMB (20% credit)
• Stabilization of Flowable Soil by Incinerated Oily Sludge, Zhejiang Provincial Key R&D Programme (Subproject), 2023─2025, 600,000 RMB (25% credit)
• Investigation of Microwave Dehydration Technology for Desulfurized Gypsum, Shanghai Fupei New Material Technology Co. Ltd, 2023─2024, 150,000 RMB (20% credit)
• Production of Artificial Aggregate from Excavated Soil and Alkali-Activated Slag, Ningbo Commonweal Project, 2022─2024, 200,000 RMB (15% credit)
• Key Technologies for Controlled Release of CO₂ for Accelerated Curing of Cementitious Materials Using Porous Carriers, Ningbo Natural Science Foundation, 2021─2024, 50,000 RMB (30% credit)
• R&D of Technology and Equipment for Harmless Treatment and Resource Utilization of Pharmaceutical Sludge based on Microwave Pyrolysis and Catalytic Reforming, Zhejiang Provincial Key R&D Program, 2021─2024, 4,300,000 RMB (30% credit)
• Study on the Design, Controllable Synthesis and Mechanisms of Mercury-Sulfur Transfer Catalysts for Coal-Fired Flue Gas, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 2018─2020, 288,000 RMB (20% credit)

Dr. Xu teaches separation process-related modules across three academic levels within the Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering programs. Notably, the Process Engineering Laboratories (CHEE3042) module has been recognized as a Provincial First Class Module.

• Process Engineering Principles (Code: CHEE1041, 2017─present)
• Separation and Particle Technology (Code: CHEE2051, 2016─present)
• Process Engineering Laboratories (Code: CHEE3042, 2017─present)